Saudi king tells U.N. kingdom supports efforts to prevent nuclear Iran

FILE PHOTO: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz gives a speech on the occassion of Eid al-Adha from the royal palace in Neom, Saudi Arabia, July 20, 2021. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that his kingdom supports efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, as world leaders prepare to resume talks with Tehran to reinstate a 2015 nuclear pact.

"The kingdom insists on the importance of keeping the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, on this basis we support international efforts aiming at preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons," he said in a pre-recorded video address to the annual gathering.